30 Rock: "Jack-Tor" Review

Jack the actor, Tracy the illiterate and Jenna the seductress make from some uproarious comedy.

Let's hope 30 Rock's move to Thursday nights makes the show a booming success because this is one new comedy we do not want to see taken off the air. If there was any doubt about the potential of this show, it was assuaged here. "Jack-Tor" had us laughing from every angle and may have begun a debate as to which character is more fun to watch-- Jack Donaghy or Tracy Jordan?Jack took an early lead in that competition with his cheesy company motivational video encouraging GE "product integration" with NBC programming. For example, Jack suggested a show's character could purchase and be satisfied with one of GE's "direct-current drilling motors for an off-shore or land-based project." It's a ludicrous concept made convincingly real by Alec Baldwin's deadpan delivery. Of course, Liz is appalled by the idea of her show becoming a commercial, but she's interrupted by Pete talking about how great Diet Snapple tastes. It's a subtle, self-referential dig that quickly builds into sexy assistant Cerie staring directly into the camera stating, "I only date men who drink Snapple." This is an example of what the show excels at: combining the reality-based humor of company culture with over-the-top parody bits. The product integration video led Liz to cast Jack in a sketch mocking the idea of product integration. Reluctant at first, Jack is soon eager to face the challenge of acting in a live broadcast. ("I like challenges. I've summited Kilimanjaro. I've showered with Greta Van Susteren.") This led us to one of the best parts of the episode. Jack's assistant, wary of his boss ruining the program, showed Liz and Pete the outtakes of the company video. It was a bit that lasted nearly three minutes-- a lifetime to rely on one basic joke-- but the fact that it just kept going and going made it funnier and funnier. It may have been the result of trying to fill the extra time in this super-sized episode, but it was well worth it.

Tracy Jordan was right on Jack Donaghy's comedic heels, faking illiteracy to skip rehearsals. ("I can't read! I sign my checks with an "X"!) When Liz realized Tracy was faking, her attempts to catch him in his lie were classic. First she asked him to approve new poster ads for the show that declared Tracy had "the smallest penis in show business." Keeping up his ruse, Tracy uncomfortably approved the ads. But he couldn't resist following the sign that read, "Hot Lesbian Try-outs." While admitting the truth, Tracy confessed that, not only can he read, he writes a column in Ebony called "Musings." No longer relying on out-of-date Martin Lawrence references, Tracy is evolving into his own uniquely hilarious character. (For the record, Jack is winning the comedy showdown.)Jenna Maroney returned after being absent for two episodes. The show seems to have settled on her character being more of a dumb blonde than anything else. It's a cliché, to be sure, but she wasn't without her moments. Specifically, her beguiling attempt to seduce a man by provocatively eating a spoonful of non-dairy creamer had us rolling. It will be interesting to see how the ditzy Jenna will interact with the crazy Tracy. Five episodes in and the two stars of the fictitious "Girlie Show" have yet to have extended screen time together.Beyond the humor of the main storylines, there were plenty of throwaway jokes that made this episode one of the best. There was a great Studio 60 dig where Liz tried quoting global education statistics only to realize she had no idea what she was talking about. ("I gotta read more.") And successfully scattered throughout the episode were references to that week's upcoming production. The idea of a sketch called "Gay-braham Lincoln" is far more effective than actually seeing it performed. With so much great comedy coming at you from every direction, in all forms, this was an episode that thoroughly entertained.